THE 3 BEST BB CREAMS, ACCORDING TO OUR RESIDENT BEAUTY EXPERT

The 3 Best BB Creams, According to Our Resident Beauty Expert

The 3 Best BB Creams, According to Our Resident Beauty Expert

Melissa Magsaysay, a fashion and beauty expert (and a mom!), is the ideal source for tips and tricks for moms on the go. Here, she answers a beauty question from one of Elizabeth Street's readers.

Q: As a mother of two kids under the age of three, I like the idea of a BB Cream because it's fast and easy. But I don't want to forsake coverage for convenience. Any recommendations on a BB that provides great coverage?

A: The BB Cream craze that originated in Asia, hit the U.S. several years ago and doesn’t seem to show any signs of stopping. And why would it? Whether you’re a time-strapped mom or just any woman who loves a streamlined do-it-all makeup product, a BB cream is by far the obvious choice.

Given that the cream is so dreamy, essentially every brand out there, from beauty counter to drugstore shelf, has its own version. While a beauty junkie may love options, a super busy beauty junkie has to get the most effective item in their hands and into their morning routine ASAP.

I’ve waded through a lot of different BB creams and have found that the following products provide the skin with all the promised benefits (most BB Creams are packed with Broad Spectrum SPF protection, moisturizer and ingredients to fight hyper pigmentation and aging) as well as full and even coverage strong enough to rival your favorite foundation.

I really like Clarins Skin Perfecting BB Cream for the full, but radiant coverage it gives. Basically, my barometer for BB Creams is whether a quick swipe of the stuff effectively covers the sunspots on my cheeks without being even the slightest bit cakey. This stuff does just that. And Clarins has always had a good reputation for their sun protection. The SPF 25 in this formula is perfect for everyday use.

Ren Skincare’s Satin Perfection BB Cream is amazing because of the satin-y finish that covers effectively without looking too heavy. The silicone-free formula fights dark spots and imperfections, which I believe wholeheartedly since this cream is part of their Radiance Range--a set of products I’ve found really does combat dark spots, and leaves skin glowing and renewed.

Covergirl CG Smoothers BB Cream has the best coverage I’ve found at the drugstore, hands down. Compared to others I’ve tried, the Covergirl cream is less tinted moisturizer and more a great combo of treatment and coverage, just what a BB Cream should be. And you really can’t beat the price.

Melissa Magsaysay is a freelance fashion and beauty writer who contributes to various style publications and websites. She was most recently the style editor for the Los Angeles Times, and former west coast fashion market editor at Women's Wear Daily.